Drip preventing tie disposably used with a bottle neck

ABSTRACT

A combination adhesively end securable face sheet and absorbent article which is readily securable about an upper neck location of a fluid carrying bottle (e.g. wine bottle) and which provides a number of desirable features, including without limitation enhanced drip absorbent capability, multiple options for indicia advertisement, low cost, and ease of disposability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Non-Prov of Prov (35 USC 119(e)) application 60/887,923 filed on Feb. 2, 2007 and entitled DRIP-PREVENTATIVE TIE DISPOSABLY USED WITH A BOTTLE NECK.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a combination adhesively end securable face sheet and absorbent article. In particular, the present invention provides an article which is readily securable about an upper neck location of a fluid carrying bottle (e.g. wine bottle) and which provides a number of desirable features, including without limitation enhanced drip absorbent capability, multiple options for indicia advertisement, low cost, and ease of disposability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is fairly well documented with examples of drip preventative accessories for use such as with an open and bottle shaped beverage container. The most typical of such protective devices is the use of a small towel or napkin wrapped around the neck of such as a wine bottle and in order to prevent the incidences of drips or the like from staining a counterlop, table top or table linen.

Additional devices are known for attaching directly to the neck of the bottle for assisting in drip prevention. Among these are the drip dickey brand wine collars. ©2004-2005. these typically including the provision of elongated, sleeve shaped articles slidably attachable to a bottle neck and which are intended to prevent such as wine stains. The drip dickeys are also disclosed as including resilient materials with absorbent characteristics.

Additional devices for collecting and absorbing drips on a fluid container include the disclosures set forth in both U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,401,980 and 6,325,247, both to Iggulden. Each of these teaches a first material substantially impervious to the fluid in the container and which is adhesively bonded to a layer of absorbent material. As illustrated by example in the '980 patent, a further layer of adhesive is applied to the other side of the absorbent material so that a strip of desired length may be secured to the exterior of the fluid container. The outermost annular layer may also exhibit an increased width relative to an inner annular positioned and absorbent layer and such that it may serve as a gutter to direct fluid drips to collect and absorb into the absorbent spacing material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a drip-preventing tie utilized with a bottle neck exhibiting a face sheet with a substantially elongated shape and a width, and which may also include a decorative pattern imprinted upon a front face thereof. A rear face of the elongated sheet material also includes at least first and second adhesively engageable ends.

An absorbent article is provided, having a length typically shorter than that associated with the face sheet and a corresponding width, in one version being greater in dimension than the face sheet, and which is secured along an intermediate extending location of the rear face of the elongated sheet. The adhesively engageable ends of the face sheet, these extending beyond the opposite extending edges of the absorbent article, are adaptable to engage at least one of a circumferential location of the bottle neck and an overlapping location of the face sheet, in order to secure the tie about the bottle neck.

Additional features include the face sheet exhibiting a semi-gloss decorative front face against which is applied a permanent lamination. Along these lines, at least one color application an further be applied to the front face of the face sheet.

The absorbent material is further constructed, according to one variant, of a hydro-knit fast-absorbing material, this further being provided in a generally rectangular configuration (similar to the overlaying face sheet) and further exhibiting a combined pulp and polypropylene material. The intermediate extending location of the face sheet rear face (over which is applied the absorbent article) includes an adhesive surface for adhering the absorbent article.

The first and second adhesively engageable ends also include adhesive appliques which are removable to reveal adhesive/tacky surfaces in order to adhere the face sheet to the bottle neck. In one specific use application the face sheet exhibits width by length dimensions of 0.75″×5.0265″, with the absorbent article further exhibiting width by length dimensions of 1.5″×4.25″, and in order to be applied to standard dimensioned wine bottles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the drip preventing tie affixed to an upper neck portion of a bottle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front face of a face sheet and associated and attached absorbent material associated with a bottle tie according to the variant of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rear face of the face sheet and absorbent article and illustrating a pre-cut back liner exhibiting first and second peel away end appliques for revealing the adhesive securing locations of the face sheet;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional environmental view of the present article, such as shown in FIG. 1, affixed to an upper neck portion of a bottle;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustration of an absorbent article according to an alternate, substantially rectangular, pattern shape; and

FIG. 6 is a reverse plan view of the article in FIG. 5 and, similar to the previous variant of FIG. 3, showing the pre-cut back, liner exhibiting first and second peel away end appliques for revealing the adhesive securing locations of the face sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an assembly view is shown at 10 of a bottle lie according lo one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As previously described, the present invention provides an article which is readily securable about an upper neck location 12 of a fluid carrying bottle (e.g. wine bottle) and which provides a number of desirable features, including without limitation enhanced drip absorbent capability, multiple options for indicia advertisement, low cost, and ease of disposability.

As will be subsequently described in Further detail, the essential features of the article 10, as also successively referenced in each of FIGS. 2-4, include a face sheet (typically a semi-gloss facing material) 14 and an attachable absorbent article 16. As shown, each of the face sheet 14 and attached absorbent article 16 exhibit a rectangular shape in a preferred embodiment with extending sides and interconnecting ends. Although not shown, it is further understood that the face sheet and/or absorbent article may further exhibit an oval, or other polygonal like shape.

The face sheet 14 can include any dimension suitable for encircling and securing about an upper extending neck location of a bottle and, according to one possible variant, may exhibit 5.06″×0.75″ in area with a semi-gloss, permanent lamination (in one or more colors) applied to at least one side thereof. It is also envisioned that the label can be provided with a four color or other suitable process to provide a desired decorative effect. FIG. 1 illustrates one possible version of an indicia application as will be subsequently described.

As further shown in the reverse facing view of FIG. 3, a rear face of the face sheet 14 typically includes a substantially extending adhesive surface (not shown but corresponding to linear distance 18) and against which the fluid absorbent article 16 is secured. The rear or back facing surface of the face sheet 14 may also include opposite edge located peel-away portions, see as illustrated at 20 and 22, underneath which are revealed adhesive locations, see as further shown at 24 corresponding to semi-removed portion 22. These adhesive locations are adapted to securing either to surface locations of the bottle neck or, preferably, to an overlapping edge of the face sheet 14 to secure the same in place.

The absorbent material 16 is further provided, in the variant illustrated, as a hydro knit fast-absorbing material, such including a pulp and polypropylene construction (e.g. Kimberly Clark, White. Red and Blue) and which provides a desired combination of strength and extremely high absorbency. The absorbent material 16 is preferably both glue and binder free in order to maximize its fluid absorbing capabilities, and again owing to the ability to secure the material 16 against the tacky adhesive rear surface (again along zone 18 in FIG. 3) of the face sheet 14, preferably further in a centered top to bottom, and side to side fashion. The absorbent material may include dimensions, in one non-limiting and preferred embodiment, of 4.25″ length×1.5″ height and so as to correspond nicely to the overall dimensions of the face sheet 12 (again such as 0.75″×5.0625″).

As previously referenced in FIG. 1, an indicia scheme 25 can be applied to the front face of the face sheet. It is notable that the present invention can operate with any decorative face or indicia scheme, or be left blank, according to the desires of the producer. The illustration shown in FIG. 1 is further intended to be representative of any of a variety of different aesthetic or decorative designs which may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cross sectional environmental view is shown of the article (see face sheet 14 and absorbent material 16) affixed to upper neck portion 12 of a bottle. As shown, the article is secured to the bottle such that the absorbent material 14 extends to a proximate underside location 26 of the bottle top opening.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate, at 28, an alternative version of the absorbent article according to an alternate, substantially rectangular, pattern shape and by which the absorbent article exhibits a substantially similar width dimension relative to a covering face sheet 30 (FIG. 5). As further referenced in the reverse facing illustration of FIG. 6, the absorbent article, shown here at 32, includes a length (such as 4.5″ in one non-limiting application) so as not to extend onto or obstruct peel away edge portions (see at 34 and 36). As previously described, the absorbent article 32 is adhered to the exposed back surface of the label (face sheet 30) and prior to installation about an upper bottleneck 12 circumference (see again FIGS. 1 and 4). It is further understood that the dimensions of the face sheet and/or absorbent article are modifiable based upon the dimensions of the bottle neck applied thereto, or in view of any other considerations including, but not limited to, absorbency.

In use, the article is readily attachable and disposable (such as along with the empty fluid holding container). The drip-preventative tie further operates to absorb drips and overspills at the opening of the bottle, after pouring any volume of its interior contents. Application steps include removing a first selected edge backliner portion (e.g. adhesive peel-away portions) and in order to adhere an edge of the face sheet to the bottle. At this point, the article is then wrapped around the neck of the bottle, and the opposite adhesive peel-away portion likewise removed in order to likewise secure to an overlapping location of the fastener sheet 12 or, alternatively and in the instance of larger diameter bottle necks, may also be fashioned to secure directly to the glass bottle in proximate location to the first attaching end.

Having described our invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A drip-preventing tie utilized with a bottle neck, comprising: a face sheet exhibiting a substantially elongated shape and a width and including a decorative front face and a rear face, said rear face further including at least first and second adhesively engageable ends; and an absorbent article having a length, and width and secured to an intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face, said adhesively engageable ends of said face sheet extending beyond opposite edges of said absorbent article and which are adaptable to engage at least one of a circumferential location of the bottle neck and an overlapping location of the face sheet in order to secure the tie about the bottle neck.
 2. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 1, said face sheet further comprising a semi-gloss decorative front face against which is applied a permanent lamination.
 3. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 2, further comprising at least one color application applied to said face sheet front face.
 4. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 1, said absorbent material, exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a hydroknit fast-absorbing material.
 5. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 4, said absorbent material having a generally rectangular configuration and further comprising a combined pulp and polypropylene material.
 6. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 1, said intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face further comprising an adhesive surface for adhering said absorbent article.
 7. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 1, said first and second adhesively engageable ends further comprising adhesive appliques which are removable in order to adhere the face sheet to the bottle neck.
 8. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 1, said face sheet having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 0.75″×5.0265″.
 9. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim L said absorbent article having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 1.5″×4.25″.
 10. A drip-preventing tie utilized with a bottle neck, comprising: a face sheet exhibiting a substantially elongated shape and a width and including a decorative front face and a rear face, said rear face further including at least first and second adhesively engageable ends, said face sheet further comprising a semi-gloss decorative front face against which is applied a permanent lamination, at least one color application applied to said face sheet front face; and an absorbent article having a length and width and secured to an intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face, said adhesively engageable ends of said face sheet extending beyond opposite edges of said absorbent article and which are adaptable to engage at least one of a circumferential location of the bottle neck and an overlapping location of the face sheet in order to secure the tie about the bottle neck.
 11. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 10, said absorbent material exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a hydroknit fast-absorbing material.
 12. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 11, said absorbent material having a generally rectangular configuration and further comprising a combined pulp and polypropylene material,
 13. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 10, said intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face further comprising an adhesive surface for adhering said absorbent article.
 14. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 10, said first and second adhesively engageable ends further comprising adhesive appliques which are removable in order to adhere the face sheet to the bottle neck.
 15. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 10, said face sheet having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 0.75″×5.0265″.
 16. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 10, said absorbent article having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 1.5″×4.25″.
 17. A drip-preventing tie utilized with a bottle neck, comprising: a face sheet exhibiting a substantially elongated shape and a width and including a decorative front face and a rear face, said rear face further including at least first and second adhesively engageable ends, said free sheet further comprising a semi-gloss decorative front face against which is applied a permanent lamination, at least one color application applied to said face sheet front face; and an absorbent article having a length and width and secured to an intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face, said absorbent material exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a hydroknit fast-absorbing material, said intermediate extending location of said face sheet rear face further comprising an adhesive surface for adhering said absorbent article, said adhesively engageable ends of said face sheet extending beyond opposite edges of said absorbent article and which are adaptable to engage at least one of a circumferential location of the bottle neck and an overlapping location of the face sheet in order to secure the tie about the bottle neck.
 18. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 17, said absorbent material having a generally rectangular configuration and further comprising a combined pulp and polypropylene material.
 19. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 17, said first and second adhesively engageable ends further comprising adhesive appliques which are removable in order to adhere the face sheet to the bottle neck.
 20. The drip-preventative tie as described in claim 17, said lace sheet having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 0.75″×5.0265″, said absorbent article having a specified shape and size with a dimension of 1.5″×4.25″. 